Wheel disk structure



June 17, 1941. LYON 2,245,928

WHEEL DISK STRUCTURE Original Filed Jan. 15, 1936 6 603 c:- Akazzr Ara.

Patented June 17, 1941 aztsszs UNITE STATES PATENT j 2,245,928 I WHEELDISK STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N; J. Originalapplication January 15, 1936, Serial No.

59,276. Divided and this application December 21, 1939, Serial No.310,335

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a wheel structure, and more particularly to acircular cover member for retaining cooperation with the outer side of awheel.

The subject matter of the present application has been divided from mycopending application Serial No. 59,276, filed January 15, 1936, nowPatent No. 2,190,669, issued February 20, 1940, entitled Wheel diskstructure.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved, simple, andrelatively light cover member for an automobile wheel.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a wheel structureincluding a wheel having rim and body parts a novel covering member forcooperation with one of said parts and being reinforced both at itspoint of retaining cooperation with the wheel and at the point where apry-on force may be applied to remove the cover member from the wheel.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there isprovided in a wheel structure including rim and body parts a circularcover member for retaining cooperation with one of these parts andcomprising a central portion, an

outer marginal portion, and an intermediate depressed portion, thedepressed portionproviding in the cover member a rearwardly extendinginclined flange separated by a groovein the outer face of the covermember from the outer marginal portion, and which flange projects inboth radial and axial directions away from the central portion.

Another feature of this invention relates to the construction of theretaining flange of the wheel cover member whereby this flange isreinforced at its point of retaining engagement with the wheel.

Still another feature of this invention relates to the reinforcing ofthe outer marginal portion of the cover member so as to cause thisportion to better resist indentations when the end of a pry-off tool isinserted thereunder to eject the cover member from the wheel.

Still another feature of the invention relates to the provision in thecover member of a masking plate for concealing the junction between thecentral and outer marginal portions of the cover member.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing which illustrates a single embodiment thereof, andin which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken through awheel structure embodying the features of this invention and showing themanner in which the cover member retainingly cooperates with the wheel;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken through a cover memberembodying the features of this invention; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view corresponding to oneportion of Figure 2 and illustrating clearly the construction of theretaining flange of the cover member.

A shown on the drawing:

The reference character It designates generally a drop center tire rimpart for accommodating in the usual way a tire 9. Secured to the baseflange of this tire rim part it is a wheel body part II, the centralportion of which isadapted to be fastened in the usual way by bolts orcap screws to a part on an axle of a vehicle.

Positioned over the outer face of the wheel is a circular ornamentalcover member IZembodying the features of this invention. Thiscovermember I2 is adapted to retaininglycooperate with a plurality of springsl9 secured to the body part I of the wheel. These springs may be of anysuitablenumber, such for example as five, and each of them is of asubstantially right angular construction as is evident from theillustration shown in Figure 1. These springs have been disclosed inprevious patents granted to meand hence do not per se constitute a partof this invention. I

The .wheel cover member 5 2, as noted before,

is of circular configuration and is preferably made of relatively lightsheet material such as will lend itself readilyto the application of ahigh luster finish. For illustration, the cover member l2 may be made ofstainless steel sheet metal or of any other suitable metal having therequisite characteristics of lightness and rigidity.

The cover member l2 includes a central bulged or crown portion IS, anouter marginal portion I 4, and an intermediate grooved portion IS. Theintermediate grooved portion l5 includes an obliquely inclined flange orskirt l6 which extends in both axial and radial directions rearwardlyfrom the outer periphery of the bulged portion l3. This flange It is ata reentrant angle to the outer marginal portion I 4 and is separatedfrom the outer marginal portion it by a groove as is clearily shown inthe drawing.

The innermost extremity of the flange Iii is turned, as indicated at II, so as to provide a turned edge for engagement with the free ends ofthe retaining spring elements l9. This feature is advantageous in thatit provides the cover member with reinforcement at its point ofapplication to the retaining means on the wheel. Thus, the retainingskirt or flange of the cover member is enabled to better resistindentations from the pressure of the spring retaining elements [9.

In order to conceal the groove at the intermediate portion I5, I haveprovided the cover member with a masking plate of suitable light metaldesignated by the reference character 20. This masking plate has at itscenter the same general contour as the bulged portion l3 and has itsperipheral portion lock seamed to the edge of the outer marginal portionM of the cover member so that the masking plate is firmly attached tothe main body of the cover member.

As best shown in Figure 3, the fastening for the masking plate 20 isprovided by curling the outer edge 2| of the masking plate around acurled or turned edge l8 of the outer marginal portion I4 of the covermember. Thus, the outer periphery of the cover member is greatlyreinforced by the multiple thicknesses of metal at said edges l8 and 2|,and as a consequence the cover member is better enabled to resistindentation from the application of a pry-off force to the outerperiphery of the cover member. That is to say, in removing the covermember from the wheel it is the practice to insert behind its outer edgethe end of a blunt tool such as a screwdriver and to then twist or exerta force upon the screwdriver so as to forcibly eject the cover mem herfrom retaining cooperation with the spring elements l9. This force isresisted by the reinforced outer edge of the cover member.

It will be appreciated that by reason of the angle at which the flange16 extends relative to the cover member it is enabled to be disposed ina position for ready application to the retaining elements I9.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. As an article of manufacture, a circular wheel covering member madeof sheet metal having a central bulged portion, an outer marginalportion, and an intermediate grooved portion connecting said bulged andmarginal portions with the groove of said grooved portion being ofsubstantially V-shaped cross section and separating said bulged andmarginal portions, said grooved portion defining a rearwardly obliquelyinclined flange for retaining snap-on cooperation with a wheel, and saidflange extending rearwardly axially and radially inwardly so that itsrearmost extremity is disposed directly behind said bulged portion.

2. As an article of manufacture, a circular wheel covering member madeof sheet metal having a central bulged portion, an outer marginalportion, an intermediate grooved portion connecting said bulged andmarginal portions, said grooved portion defining a rearwardly obliquelyinclined flange for retaining snap-on cooperation with a wheel, and saidflange extending axially rearwardly so that its rearmost extremity isdisposed directly behind said bulged portion, and a masking platedisposed over the outer face of and attached to said member to concealthe groove in said intermediate portion.

3. As an article of manufacture, a circular wheel covering member madeof sheet metal having a central bulged portion, an outer marginalportion, an intermediate grooved portion connecting said bulged andmarginal portions, said grooved portion defining a rearwardly obliquelyinclined flange for retaining snap-on cooperation with a wheel, and saidflange extending axially rearwardly so that its rearmost extremity isdisposed directly behind said bulged portion, and a masking platedisposed over the outer face of and attached to said member to concealthe groove in said intermediate portion, said plate having its outeredge lock seamed to the edge of said marginal portion by nested curls onsaid two edges whereby to provide said member with reenforcement at thepoint of the application of a pry-oil? force.

4. As an article of manufacture, a circular wheel covering member madeof sheet metal having a central bulged portion, an outer marginalportion, an intermediate grooved portion connecting said bulged andmarginal portions, said grooved portion defining a rearwardly obliquelyinclined flange for retaining snap-on cooperation with a wheel, and saidflange extending axially rearwardly so that its rearmost extremity isdisposed directly behind said bulged portion, and a masking platedisposed over the outer face of said member and secured thereto forconcealing the junction between said central and outer marginalportions.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

